Electromechanical coupling



United States Patent [72] Inventor Joseph C. Meagher Primary Examiner-Wil1iam S. Lawson Northridge, California AttorneyH. Christoffersen [21] Appl. No. 767,923 [22] Filed Oct. 8, 1968 [45] Patented Nov. 24, 1970 [73] Assignee RCA Corporation a corporation of Delaware v ABSTRACT: A punch mechanism having a force coupling structure using a punch element with a transverse slot across [54] ELECTROMECHANICAL COUPLING one end thereof and a separate punch drive element having a 13 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs. ridge across one end thereof lying adjacent to the slot. The slot [52] user 234/115, has a characterized Shape caPable of mating with the ridge- 83/572 The drive element is movable along an axis toward the punch 51 ll'lLCl G06k 1/05 element by actuating means A resilient means is used 50 Field ol'Search 234/94, establish a mmally mating Orientation and ridge, While an electromagnetic means is arranged IO selectively disrupt the mating orientation of the slot and the ridge [56] References Cit d by rotating the drive element with respect to the punch ele- UNITED STATES PATENTS ment. in the normal orientation, the movement of the drive member is isolated from the punch member by the mating of 2l82544 12/1939 Muman et 83/573) the slot and the ridge, while in the rotated orientation, the 3,459,370 8/1969 Eissfeldtetal 234/115X movement of the drive element is transmitted to the punch FOREIGN PATENTS element by a contact between the ridge and the end of the 26,188 8/1906 Great Britain 83/571 punch element.

a a\n r u I 2 I I 1 I4. g It 1 l 0 I 3] 3 a 1 \l\ l\Y\\ )2 *Z 57 I 17 9! 3/ 4 37 39 Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,542,284

INVENTOR ITTORUI'Y operating life. Accordingly,

- sembly having a first j 13, or surface, on the end endpiece on the other end.

, 1 sLEcrRoMEc ANIcAL COUPLING BACKGROUND OFTl-IE INVENTION In the construction of various data handling machines, e.g., a card punch machine, it-is necessary to provide compact asscrnblies for controlling the selective transfer of operating forces. Since each card punch machine can require a large number of these assemblies, it is desirable for the force transinterposers for transferring the force from the drivers to the punches. The interposers" are selectively movable to either block the rn'ove ment of the corresponding driver relative to the respective punch or to mechanically couple the punch element to the driver. The use of such interposers creates a complex mechanical'structure which is inherently incapable of truly high speed while exhibiting a relatively troublesome it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple mechanical coupling assembly for selective force transmission having a long and trouble-free operating life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a force coupling asmember which is rotatable between a first and ase cond position about an axis and movable along the axis. One end of this member has an endpiece. A second member is positioned for movement along the same axis as the first member. The-second member has an'endpiece mating means adjacent to the endpiece of the first member. The endpiece mating means Isarranged to be contacted by the endpiece in the first position of the first member and to be missed by the endpiece in the second position of the first member. A control means is coupled to the first member for selectively rotating the same between the first and second position. An actuating means is operative to successively bring together and separate the endpiece and the endpiece mating means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS the punching waste, or chads to be removed after a punching operation. The second block 5, also, has a plurality of holes,9

' alined with respectiveones of the holes 7 in the first block-3.

The holes Tand 9 are substantially identical'to each other to act as a punch die and punch guide, respectively. A plurality of punches 11 are positioned in the holes 9 in the second block 5. Specifica1ly,there is a separate punch 11 located in each of the holes 9. The punches 11 each have a suitable cutting edge As all of the punch assemblies are substantially identical,

only one of them is described in the following detailed description. The flanged end 15 of the punch 11 projects out of the hole 9 in the second block 5. An encircling return spring 17 is locatedon the punch 11 between the flange 15 and the'outside surface of the second block 5. The spring 17 is used to strip, i.e., remove, the punch from the die block 3 and the card 1. A guide plate 19 is located adjacent to the second block 5 with a plurality of bores, or holes 21, therein. Referring to a typical one of the holes 21, it is concentric witha respective one of embodiment of the present inadjacent to the card 1 and a flange the holes 9 in the second block 5. However, the diameter of the hole 21 starting from the surface of the plate 19 adjacent to the block 5' and continuing into a major portion of the thickness of the plate 19 is greater than the diameter of the hole 9 to accommodate the flange endpiece 15 and return spring 17. j

Within the plate 19, the hole 21 is joined to a second concentric hole 22 having a smaller diameter. The second hole 22 passes through the'remaining part of the plate 19. The junction of the holes 21 and 22 forms a step 23 to act as a stop for the flange 15 of punch 11. The flange 15 is urged against the stop 23 by the spring 17. A crosscut slot 25 is provided in the flanged end 15 ofpunch 11.

A drive pin 30 has an enlarged endpiece section 31 at one end thereof which section is slideably supported within the hole 220i the plate 19. A forwardly projecting endpiece, such as a crosswise ridge 33, is located on the face ofthe free end of the enlarged endpiece section 31. The top of the ridge 33 is normally spaced from the slot 25, by means hereinafter described, in an unoperated state of punch mechanism. However, the ridge 33 is arranged to mate with the recess, or slot 25 when alined therewith, i.e., the ridge 33 can thereafter be inserted into the recess 25.

The drive pins 30 are supported at a position spaced from the plate 19 by a second support plate 37. A plurality of holes 39 in the second plate 37 slideably support respective ones of the drive pins 30. Between the support plates 19 and 37, is an electromagnetic structure 41 encompassing each of the drive pins 30 between the enlarged sections 31 and the second plate 37. This structure 41 is shown in detail in a side view in FIG. 2 which FIG. is .included in the following discussion. Referring to one of the drive pins 30, an upper pole piece 43 and a lower pole piece 45 are positioned adjacent to the drive pin 30. The pole pieces form an air gap with the drive pin 30 located therein. A magnetic circuit for the pole pieces 43 and 45 is provided adjacentto the drive pin 30 by a core element 47 which joins the pole pieces 43 and 45.

An electromagnetic coil 49 is wound on the core element 47, and a pair of electrical terminals 51 are connected to the coil 49. A permanent magnet bar 55 is transversely positioned through the drivelpin 30 between the pole pieces 43 and 45. The magnet 55 is magnetized across its width, i.e., through the drive pin 30, to present opposite magnetic poles on opposite sides of the pin.30. In the unenergized state of the punch mechanism, i.e., the normal position of the pin 30, the magnetic bar 55 is positioned substantially midway between the pole'pieces 43 and 45, as is also shown at the side view of FIG. 2. It should be noted that the drive pin 30 may be made of a nonmagnetic material to enhance the effect of the pole pieces I 43 and 45 on the permanent magnet 55 by allowing a max- .the right of the plate37 imum'area for the magnetic flux from the pole pieces 43 and The drive pin 30 is extended beyond the second plate 37 (to as viewed in FIG. 1) to have its free end operatively assocIated with a suitable punch actuating drive, e.g., an eccentric cam 57. A rotational return spring 60 may be connected between this extended end of the pin 30 and the second plate 37 to position the pin 30 in its normal position.

In-operation, the rotation of the cam 57 urges all of the drive pins 30 toward the punches 11 with a concurrent compression of the springs 60. Since in an unenergized state of the electromagnetic structure 41, r'.e., the normal position of the pins 30, the ridges 33 are alined with the slots 25, this movement of the pins 30 is effective to'cause the ridges 33 to enter the respective ones of the slots 25. The aforesaid movement of the pins 30 is limited by the eccentricity of the cam 57 to a distance which does not allow the ridges 30 to bottom in the slots 25. Thus, during this state of the punch mechanism, the

. upon the release of the pins 30 by the cam 57.

To select a punch for operation in punching a hole in the card 1, a corresponding one of the coils 49 is energized prior to the time that the cam 57 is operated. This energization of a selected coil produces a magnetic field across the pole pieces a3 and 45 which attracts the magnet 55 in the associated drive pin 30. Accordingly, the drive pin .30 is rotated through a predetermined angle, e-.g., 45. The extent of the rotation of the pin 30 may be controlled by the wrapping action of the rotational return spring 60 on the pin 30. Alternatively, a stop lug may be provided on the pin 30 to bear against a fixed stop (not shown).

When a drive pin 30 is in this rotated state, the ridge on the end thereof is not alined with the respectivetslot 25. if the cam 57 is rotated during the time a coil 49 on the correspond,

ing punch is energized, the rotated pin 30 is longitudinally driven in its rotated state against the punch 11. The misalinemerit of theridge 33 and the slot transfers the motion ofthe pin to the punch 11 to produce a punching operation ofthe card 1. It is to be notedthatthe illustrated embodiment of a slot and a ridge for the endpiece and endpiece receiving means, respectively, is only illustrative since other mating configurations are possible. For example, an arrangement using a ,ridge on the end of both the punch and the drive pin with the ridges being arranged to slide past each other in a mating orientation, Further, the slotand the ridge may be on the ends of the opposite members to those illustrated in the drawings.

When the coil 49; is deenergized and the pins 30 are released by the cam 57, the rotational return spring 60 returns the pin 30 to its original position, i.e., the normal position. Concurrently, the spring 25 returns the punch 11 to its original position following this punching operation. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the rotational control coils 49 are selectively energized before the cam 57 is operated to select the punches ii to be used during a punching operation. The subsequent operation of the cam 57 moves all of the pins 30, but only those that are rotated engage the punches it associated therewith.

l claim:

1. In combination, a first member which is rotatable through an angle about an axis between a firstposition and a second position and whichis movable, also, along said axis, an endpiece on one end of said first member, a second member lying on said axis adjacent to said first member and including an endpiece mating means which in said first position of said first member is contacted by said endpiece when said first and second members are brought together along said axis and I which, insaid second position of saidfirst member, is missed by said endpiece when said first and second members are brought together along said axis, control means coupled to said first member for rotating the same between said first and second positions, and actuating means arranged to successiveiy bring said endpiece on said first member together with said endpiece mating means on said second member and to separate said endpiece and said endpiece mating means.

2. The combination asset forth in claim 1 wherein said actuating means is coupled to said first member to move the same toward and away from said second member along said axis.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said endpiece includes a crosswise ridge and said endpiece mating means includes a crosswise slot shaped to receive said ridge therein, said ridge being oriented in said second position of said first member to enter saidslot upon an operation of said actuating means. g

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means includes a permanent magnet means attached to said first means and selectively operable electromagnetic means operatively associated with said permanent magnet means to induce said rotation of said first member upon an energization of said electromagnetic means.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes an eccentric cam arranged to urge said drive member toward said d riven member and a return spa-in means arranged to urge said drive member away from said driven member.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 4 and including a stop means to define saidfirst and said second position of said first member,

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 and further including a die means and a punch endpiece on the other end of said first member operatively associated with said die means.

8. A force coupling assembly comprising, a first movable element having an endpiece on one end thereof, a second movable element having an endpiece mating means in one end thereof positioned adjacent to said endpiece and having a shapecapable of mating with said endpiece, resilient means operative to normally retain said endpiece and said endpiece mating means in a spaced apart and common axis alined relationship, a control means operatively associated with said first and second elements to selectively interfere with said alined relationship by inducing an angular displacement on said axis between said endpiece and said endpiece receiving means and a force applying means associated with said first and second element to urge said endpiece and said endpiece mating means into an associated relationship.

9. The force coupling assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said endpiece has a crosswise ridge thereon and said endpiece mating means has a crosswise slot therein capable of mating with said ridge.

10. The force coupling assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said force applying means is coupled to said second element.

ll. The force coupling assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said resilient means includes a first restoring spring means connected to said first element and a second spring means connected to said second element.

12. The force coupling assembly set forth in claim 11 wherein said control means includes'a permanent magnet attached to said first element and a selectively operable electromagnetic means operatively associated with said permanent magnet means to induce said rotation of said first member upon an energization of said electromagnetic means.

13. The force coupling assembly as set forth in claim 12 and including a stop means operative to establish said angular displacement. 

